Celebrating its quarter-century anniversary this year, The Standard Hotels have debuted in Singapore with a brand-new hotel opening at the end of 2024. It’s the latest in a series of Southeast Asia options for the chain, with The Standard, Hua Hin and The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon having opened in December 2021 and July 2022 respectively. The original iteration was in Hollywood, and the hotels are known for their bold design and, well, their character as anything but standard! This time, in Singapore, their in-house design team combined with local stars Ministry of Design to balance local sensibilities with their signature style.

Situated on Orange Grove Road, across from the renowned Shangri-La Singapore and the UNESCO-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens, The Standard, Singapore is one of the few ground-up hotels near one of the city’s premier shopping and entertainment areas. The area in general is a few notches down from the bustling high-rise financial centres, instead allowing for tranquility near the busy retail areas. The hotel itself features 143 rooms as well as three food and beverage outlets – Kaya at The Standard, Kaya Bar and Café Standard.

It is, however, the vibrant pool bar, lawn and deck that perhaps steals the show overall. Set immediately behind the entrance reception and bar area, the outdoor space is a layered, flexible and highly attractive oasis. Lush greenery meets the eye in all directions, with open space allowing for events and different types of gathering. It’s hemmed in nicely by the hotel itself, with its striking external façade, while the designers have thoughtfully broken up the space with various raised platforms, steps, nooks and paths. One can imagine everything here from a pumping DJ party to a serene scene of small groups idling away the hot day.

The Garden spans the first and second floors before leading up to The Pool. Guests make their way via a path lined with art installations and curated landscape elements designed to sync with Singapore’s equatorial sunsets. Meanwhile, the project pays homage to the nearby botanical gardens and incorporates works from local artists and artisans. The whole outdoor area achieves the feeling of being something like a grand courtyard, both connected to its surroundings and maintaining a level of peace and privacy from the city around it.

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Moving inside, some of the rooms in the hotel overlook the pool and they all achieve a sense of compact comfort and delight. Small touches of colour and materiality are testament to the thought and rigour behind the design, while timber panels wrap around the walls and ceiling as part of a wider design approach that substitutes curves for sharp corners where possible.

The external façade of the main hotel tower, while regular, achieves a sense of undulation through its broken-up glass rhythm. It complements the comprehensive hospitality offerings in the project, beginning with the ground-floor Café Standard. This is now a street-facing, buzzy neighbourhood spot whose all-day menu centres on American fare paired with natural wines and craft beers.

Elsewhere, Kaya at The Standard reimagines an Izakaya experience with bold flavors, an inventive cocktail program and Japanese-inspired that nevertheless use regional ingredients. Adjacent to the restaurant sits the Kaya Bar, a sultry evening destination that brings the element of nightlife for which The Standard is known.

Amar Lalvani, Executive Vice President, President & Creative Director, Lifestyle, Hyatt comments: “We couldn’t be more excited to open in Singapore. The city is going through an incredibly dynamic period and is emerging into an important global commercial, cultural and creative hub – perfect for The Standard. We look forward to the welcoming guests, as well as the local community, to explore our new urban oasis and its hidden treasures.”

Related: Reporting from Singapore Design Week

The Standard, Singapore is currently offering an exclusive offer to mark the opening! Guests can enjoy 15 per cent off the Best Available Room-Only Rate (BAR), with welcome drinks and a 20 per cent dining discount. Booking Period runs until 30th December 2024, with a stay period of 15th December 2024 to 30th June 2025.

Standard International Design led by Global Head of Design & Creative Services, Verena Haller. Interior Design by Ministry of Design, Founder and Director of Design, Colin Seah. Architecture by DP Architects, Senior Associate, Shawn Teo.

The Standard Singapore
standardhotels.com

Ministry of Design
modonline.com

DP Architects
dpa.com.sg

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